(Chittenango, NY – March 2013) Chittenango village officials released a statement last week that police Chief Jeffrey Paul, under investigation for allegedly stealing time from his jobs as chief and as a part-time deputy for the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, submitted a letter of retirement effective March 8.
According to Madison County Undersheriff John Ball, a 13-month investigation resulted in the simultaneous execution of three search warrants Feb. 28 at Paul’s department and funeral homes in the towns of Madison and Brookfield. Records obtained in those searches led to the arrest of Paul, 53, who is charged with two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, a class E felony, for allegedly falsifying official time sheets for his work with both agencies.
Sheriff’s Office officials say those time sheets included multiple, overlapping periods of time that Paul conducted work for both agencies and his personal business.
“Paul has been relieved of his duties with both the village of Chittenango and the Sheriff’s Office,” Ball wrote in a press release March 11.
“It’s an uncomfortable situation when, as a member of law enforcement, you have to investigate one of your own,” said Sheriff Allen Riley. “As law enforcement professionals, we take an oath swearing to support and enforce the law.”
Paul and village officials were cooperative in the investigation, Riley said.
Paul was arraigned March 11 before Lenox Town Justice Grace Rapasadi on one felony charge and released on his own recognizance. He will return to Lenox Town Court to answer his charge at a later date.
He was issued an appearance ticket for the second felony charge and is due to appear in Chittenango Village Court at a later date.
A statement issued by Chittenango village officials March 8 stated that on Feb. 28 at 9:45 a.m. the Madison County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on the village of Chittenango for certain documents pertaining to the chief. The search warrant was the first time the village had any indication of an issue involving our chief of police, the statement read.
“The village of Chittenango has received the police chief’s retirement letter and confirms that his last day of work was March 8,” wrote Mayor Ronny Goeler. “In his 15 years as police chief, he has been very progressive, bringing tasers, license plate scanners, grants and community policing into the village. The village wants to reassure residents that they will continue to receive the same protection they have always enjoyed. The police department continues to be staffed seven days a week, 24 hours a day.”
Goeler said the village has begun investigating different options to manage the department into the future.
“At this time, we have placed the day-to-day operations in the hands of Sgt. Paul Donahue,” Goeler said. “He has the confidence and support of the village Board of Trustees.”